“Hi, Isobel, do you know your mummy’s name?” I asked.
She looked confused.
“Mummy?” she answered. I smiled encouragingly and looked around again, trying to find the mother missing her child.
“Why is there only one omega?” the girl asked.
How did you explain to a child that there were other omegas in other Packs, but there were centuries of violent persecution and Packs like Sandstorm did such a good job at killing all their omegas that they cleansed us from their bloodlines?
“I’m not really special,” I said, like a secret. “There are other omegas in other Packs, but there aren’t many of us.”
“Why?” she asked.
Good Goddess, where were this child’s parents, guardians, anyone?
“I’m not sure,” I lied.
“Maybe, maybe it’s because you’re special?” she suggested in childish logic.
“I think you’re right,” I agreed. “Do you see your mummy?” I asked and looked around.
“Hey, Isobel,” Darren said, greeting the child excitedly.
She ran towards him and hugged his legs. He held out his plate with a hot dog and a burger on it for me to take.
I took the plate, and he bent down, picking Isobel up and sitting her on his shoulders.
“What’s the weather like up there?” I asked, and she laughed, gripping Darren’s hair.
“Ouch,” he said and made an exaggerated painful expression. “Do you know how long it took to coil my hair this morning, young lady?” he joked. But with how perfect his hair was, I knew he had to spend a good amount of time on it. But his carefree smile said he didn’t really mind.
Isobel laughed and patted his head as if to make it better.
“I’m the tallest,” she announced loudly.
“Can you see Mummy or Daddy from up there?” he asked.
“That way!” she said, pointing across the crowd.
“Are you coming?” he asked me.
“Of course,” I answered.
The crowd was thickest nearer the unlit bonfire and grill stations. Darren held Isobel steady with one hand and reached back, taking my hand with his other, to keep me with them as he exaggeratedly honked like a car past people.
Isobel was laughing high-pitched and loudly, beeping with him.
I was aware of the amused stares we were getting.
“Isobel!” Ophelia yelled, turning at the sound of the girl's loud laughter.
“Mummy!” Isobel yelled excitedly.
Darren released my hand and lifted Isobel from his shoulders, handing her over to Ophelia.
“Where—when—you were right here,” Ophelia stammered, looking over her daughter.
“I met Harriet; she’s the omega,” Isobel said in answer.
